Page 18 of Knot A Chance

I swallowed more rage. They may have thought I was being an asshole, but frankly I was being civil as hell, given the circumstances. The last thing I needed at the moment was a reminder that Donovan was involved with Oakley.

Everyone loved Donovan, and he’d been a friend of ours for years since his brother, Reid, was my and Wyatt’s best friend. I’d known him his whole life and I still didn’t feel like I really knew him at all. He and Reid had been at odds since the death of their father six years ago, which led to him being around us even less.

I suspected Oakley’s relationship with Donovan was temporary since I was pretty sure Reid was the brother she really wanted. Then again, this saga had been going on for nearly a decade. Still, I wasn’t entirely sure that Donovan’s interest in Oakley was anything more than something to annoy Reid. It was probably why neither of them seemed all that serious about the other.

“I think you’re going to like what I have to say,” Donovan said, shoving his hands in his pockets with a smug smile.

I stared at him, waiting for him to get on with it.

“Right,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “There were signs of a struggle in Felix’s car. I gathered prints, and Sarina is back at the station waiting for the results. We also got a report of a break-in at your shop this morning which is where Wyatt has been. No signs of forced entry, but we assumed you didn’t lock up on your way here?”

“I don’t even think I closed the door.”

He nodded. “Well, that all fits. But still, someone smashed up the place pretty good. So that, combined with the fact that Felix hasn’t shown any signs of a relapse for as long as you’ve known him, is suspicious to say the least.”

I reached across Felix’s body and uncovered his left arm. “Look.”

Donovan walked around the edge of the bed and looked at the fresh track mark and then reached for Felix’s right arm, comparing the two. He nodded. “I’ll call Wyatt and tell him about this too. If the intention was to make it look like Felix did this to himself, we’re obviously dealing with an amateur.”

“The doctor said he took a dose twice what normal users take,” I said. “Even if he relapsed, he wouldn’t be that stupid. He knew how to get high without killing himself.”

Donovan took a deep breath. “Have you considered the possibility that he wanted to kill himself?”

I sat up like a shot and bared my teeth at him, slowly losing the fight against my rage. It didn’t help that in this moment his handsome, pale face looked particularly punchable. “Suggest it again and I’ll fucking kill you,” I snarled.

Donovan's lips quirked upward on one side.

Very punchable, indeed.

“Do you need to step out for a few minutes? Catch your breath?” he asked, raising a thick eyebrow at me.

“Do you have anything to say or ask me that doesn’t make me want to rip your throat out with my bare hands?” I asked. “Fuck, if Wyatt tries to send you again, just don’t bother.”

“What is your problem with me, Bennett? I’m a respectable cop in this town you love, I’m the younger brother of one of your closest friends, and I’m dating your sister.” He waved one hand through the air as if to reveal himself to be a decent guy.

“I don’t like anyone right now. Just say what you have to say and get the fuck out.”

It was partially true. I didn’t like anyone right now, but I still liked him least of all the people I’d talked with today so far. I rarely interacted with Donovan on my own, and I was starting to see why Reid always complained about his brother.

Donovan shook his head. “Wyatt said there was someone else here at the hospital when you arrived and that you might be able to tell me more about him.”

I glowered at him. “Yes.”

“I need his name, Bennett,” he said with exasperation. “There’s a chance he’s connected to this. Was this the first time you’ve seen him around?”

“No,” I said. “Felix has run into him a couple of times over the last few months.”

“Wyatt said there was a history between them. Are you going to tell me what that is?”

“No,” I said. “I’m Felix’s alpha.”

Donovan nodded with a knowing smile. “Got it.”

“Do you?”

“I can read between the lines, Bennett. I’m not a dumbass.”

“His name is Ryder Armstrong. He’s a drug dealer in Crescent River. That’s all I know about him.”